Learn CAD/CAM or Gcode

Howdy all...
I've constructed my CNC machine, installed PC/software (running the latest Linux version) and cut the LinuxCNC sample file into a board.

My primary reasoning for building the machine is to make cribbage boards. I would like the machine to drill the custom designed peg-hole patterns, (as I'm sure that the machine will drill them precisely where they ought to be, and much faster than I); leaving the artistic designs to me (drawings, custom shapes, and surface designs, etc...)

So - to get the hole-patterns started, I'm planning to try the GUI route first as I have a Windows background and know essentially nothing about Linux. Would it be practical to download CAD / CAM software (such as LibreCAD / SketchUP etc ), import my designs, then export them into the 3D designs for the machine to use?
-or-
I'm thinking the alternative is to try to learn Gcode...and learning any coding is a bit intimidating to me.
I'd be delighted to read any thoughts/inputs/suggestions from you folks...!!

Thanx~!
>>> Sterl

Hi

For something as simple as drilling 12 patterns of 10 holes, CAD / CAM would be total overkill.

Also if you do not learn the basics of G Code, you will have great problems correcting the output from CAM or even appreciating what is does.

What you want to do can easily be achieved using a canned drilling cycle, but it might even be best to start by programming it 'longhand' , as a learning exercise.

You simply need to touch off at the first hole in one line, then drill that and move incrementally (G91) by the hole spacing required and drill the next until you have drilled the first 5 holes.
Then move whatever spacing there is between the groups and do it again for the next 5 holes etc etc.

In the process you will become familiar with G90 G91, G01, X Y and Z moves, Feed Spindle speed etc etc
All this can be done in the MDI tab, without having to write a program and then you can cut and paste the relevant bits from the MDI into a file, add a header and footer and you have written your first G Code!

Hands on, doing simple stuff like this is definitely the best way to learn, its what I did years ago, replacing manual movements of the table and quill that I was used to, with MDI commands to do the same thing.

regards

Thanx guys~! I'm thinking you're totally correct. I spent hours yesterday working on stuff.
I downloaded a couple utilities and worked on them...just to try an make a simple board with holes reminded me of when I first used MS Project back in 1998 (It was like driving a finishing nail with a sledgehammer). So, it seemed that if I could get the basis of the Gcode down, it ought to be a simple matter of 'cut-n-paste' the lines of code.

I had bookmarked some Gcode data on-line (including BigJohnT's material) and went over that a few times as well. I typed out some things and I might have the basis of what I need. I'm going to give it a go later today, and if it doesn't work and doesn't make sense, would you gents let me know what I've done wrong? This is a new venture for me, and obviously, I won't ask you folks to do the coding for me-but sometimes the human brain sets up its own roadblocks!

Thanx -

>>> Sterl

I won't disagree with anything said--you need to start with gcode. I lean toward cad/cam however. I've done a lot of both, and my experience is that cam is not only faster in almost every case, there are less errors and it is associative in most software to changes you make. Just drilling holes--it's a tossup depending on how many you are drilling and how often you need to make a new program. If you don't understand gcode or machining then accepting a program from cam software is a little dangerous.

All good information.

In the real world I spend a lot of time in CAD, so for complicated designs it is a natural choice for me.

However as John has stated many tasks can be accomplished with NGCGUI and I am using that more and more.
When you design your pattern if you know the X and Y coordinates of the holes you might want to look at position.ngc which is a NGCGUI program that you input the coordinates and it will send the machine to the exact location.

www.linuxcnc.org/media/kunena/attachment...y/files/position.ngc

The above version will send the machine to the specified locations and then pause for you to drill, the locations can also be saved to a file for later use.
I have a modified version that instead of pausing also drills holes or bores circles. I can post for you if you want to try this solution.

Rick G

Howdy gents =
Thank you for the help/input~! I will certainly look into that file Rick G.
In the interim, I have completed my first Gcode, and it worked (mostly).
The issues that prevented it from being perfect are...
#1) it did not follow the lines precisely
#2) It did not follow the HOME command at the end
#3) It burned the wood (I'm using a Vermont American carbide bit to drill. The router spins at 26k)

Here is my GCode file.

Below are two images of the program, you can see that it 'mirrored' the path, but didn't follow it exactly.


...and...


Thanx again~!

>>> Sterl

Oh, the error message in the corner happened when I pressed the [pause] button. I let it sit for a couple minutes to cool it off. I did this when it was half way done with the 2nd path.
Thanx -
>>> Sterl